Current Events > McDonald's workers in the UK went on strike demanding $19 an hour

(+) Yeah! (+)

Questionmarktarius posted...

Soon:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4YLK_F-3uTA

This is how skynet starts.
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Godnorgosh posted...

I thought we were talking about unions. At minimum, I think unions should demand as much as they can get until workers are compensated the full value of their labor.

A living wage is defined as one which allows workers to meet their basic needs, including food, housing, clothing, etc. The numeric value that constitutes a living wage varies from one place to another.

Fair enough if you dont have the living wage for UK on hand, I get it

How can unions truly help/protect people who work in outsourcable/replaceable jobs, how feasible is this


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Godnorgosh posted...

Veggeta X posted...

Working at McDonald is a low skilled job. Why do people think they should be paid so much for it?

Because $19/hr is much closer to the baseline for a living wage than what McDonald's workers are currently paid in most places. And as Antifar said, Danish McDonald's workers have already successfully unionized to be able to demand higher wages. They've shown that if a collective of workers has the bargaining power to push McDonald's on this, then McDonald's can afford it. No reason they can't or shouldn't try to do it elsewhere.

guess they don't want any profit.... Mcdonalds should pay more if it's a higher cost of living within a particular city.
every part of france isn't the same cost with some being cheaper than others.
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I think it all stems from being public, and the public markets demands for growth, and it being a global market

If mcdonalds does raise its pay, and their competition doesnt, they could take a serious hit

Idk, im trying not to be an ancap here, truth is the worlds just pretty fucked up

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Questionmarktarius posted...

Soon:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4YLK_F-3uTA

The sooner the better

Topics like this always make me see who has worked in service / retail and who hasnt.

I know its fun to say oh that job is easy, they dont deserve money but until youve worked in that industry, you have no idea how truly awful and breaking it can be.

Its not like these people are asking for a life of luxury. It would be one thing if wages were consistent with inflation.

And I know if they want a better life, they should just go to college, but even college is a gamble. And its way too expensive (which another whole can of worms...) so these people might not even be able to go to college (I still believe that one shouldnt completely drown themselves in debt just to better themselves).
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rexcrk posted...

Topics like this always make me see who has worked in service / retail and who hasnt.

I know its fun to say oh that job is easy, they dont deserve money but until youve worked in that industry, you have no idea how truly awful and breaking it can be.

Its not like these people are asking for a life of luxury. It would be one thing if wages were consistent with inflation.

And I know if they want a better life, they should just go to college, but even college is a gamble. And its way too expensive (which another whole can of worms...) so these people might not even be able to go to college (I still believe that one shouldnt completely drown themselves in debt just to better themselves).

then go to a low cost state school, or a low cost community college

fast food work was never meant to be a permanent role for anyone
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Sabram posted...

One thing that the General Managers I've had at my McDonalds has told me is "Everyones replaceable"

So trying that here would just get you fired

This is very important. The reason low skill workers get paid low skill pay is because the skill required for their job is in abundance. When your skills are much harder to replace, your pay will reflect that. Simple supply and demand principles.
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The Admiral posted...

That's what they will do, and what those workers deserve. The entire McDonalds workforce could be replaced in a week, and the replacements would probably be better.

People like you is why the future will be a dystopia

pogo_rabid posted...

God I hope so. I love using the kiosks. The less real people I have to deal with in a retail situation, the happier I am.

You too.

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Luchasaurus posted...

https://amp.cnn.com/cnn/2019/11/12/business/mcdonalds-protest-uk-gbr-scli-intl/index.html

Holy shit, totally disgraceful. Cant believe McDonalds doesnt just fire them all and train a bunch of homeless people to flip a burger. Could this generation get any more entitled?

Lol Shut up. Your in the wrong side here, buddy.
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DirkDiggles posted...

Questionmarktarius posted...

Soon:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4YLK_F-3uTA

This is how skynet starts.

This guy is an excellent salesman. He really just made it sound like a freshly sliced brioche bun is something you've never had before, lol
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Sabram posted...

One thing that the General Managers I've had at my McDonalds has told me is "Everyones replaceable"

So trying that here would just get you fired

I wouldn't last a day in fast food because my response would be "especially you"

I've spent too much time as a union member to put up with douchebag bosses like that. Thank God my boss is really fucking cool. Hes only 5 years older than me and all the old guys hate him which is stupid because he's chill as fuck and I'm like 95% sure he vapes weed at work. I want to catch him so I can make him share the wealth just once lol.
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fohstick posted...

$19/hr sounds pretty fair, tbh

LOLOLOLOLOL

MARKINGRAM22 posted...

fohstick posted...

$19/hr sounds pretty fair, tbh

LOLOLOLOLOL

It's shitty work, sure but I don't see why entry level kitchen work should pay the same as positions that require a degree.
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Wii_Shaker posted...

It's shitty work, sure but I don't see why entry level kitchen work should pay the same as positions that require a degree.

In this case a degree job should start at $50 a hour.

Maybe important or high maintenance like jobs at $35 a hour.

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PrettyBoyFloyd posted...

In this case a degree job should start at $50 a hour.

Maybe important or high maintenance like jobs at $35 a hour.

What do you think this will do to the cost of goods and services?

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Questionmarktarius posted...

Soon:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4YLK_F-3uTA

It's obnoxious how much she's overacting on the deliciousness of the burger.
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I run an entire school kitchen and don't make that much money

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The Admiral posted...

Luchasaurus posted...

Cant believe McDonalds doesnt just fire them all and train a bunch of homeless people to flip a burger.

That's what they will do, and what those workers deserve. The entire McDonalds workforce could be replaced in a week, and the replacements would probably be better.

Ehh, I still give credit to workers who are willing to draw a line in the sand, as the saying goes. They think theyre worth more than theyre being paid, so theyre willing to strike for it. Yeah, it might not work out for them, but theyre taking action, not just whining about it.

Of course, this will all be irrelevant soon when McDonalds fully implements bots or relies completely on self-order kiosks.
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Lorenzo_2003 posted...

The Admiral posted...

Luchasaurus posted...

Cant believe McDonalds doesnt just fire them all and train a bunch of homeless people to flip a burger.

That's what they will do, and what those workers deserve. The entire McDonalds workforce could be replaced in a week, and the replacements would probably be better.

Ehh, I still give credit to workers who are willing to draw a line in the sand, as the saying goes. They think theyre worth more than theyre being paid, so theyre willing to strike for it. Yeah, it might not work out for them, but theyre taking action, not just whining about it.

Of course, this will all be irrelevant soon when McDonalds fully implements bots or relies completely on self-order kiosks.

only fix at that point is that one thing where people are given money (automation is going to cause that to happen someday).
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Luchasaurus posted...

a bunch of homeless people to flip a burger.

Arent they precooked frozen patties that just get microwaved now?

How much is going to be now for a Royale with cheese?
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they should get paid one hundred dollars an hour

konokonohamaru posted...

then go to a low cost state school, or a low cost community college

This is about a story in the UK. That's not how it works in the UK.

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Bad_Mojo posted...

I run an entire school kitchen and don't make that much money

Does your school generate annual revenue measured in the billions?

Haha that's ridiculous.

That's why boomers don't respect you...

tc banned already lol these shit accts dont last long do they
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LittleBonTron2 posted...

Haha that's ridiculous.

That's why boomers don't respect you...

You know no one gives a fuck about boomers opinions tbh
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Malfunction posted...

Tc please get banned already

I feel like a lot of people here are still missing the point that this is London. Rent pretty much starts at $1000 a month there if you don't mind a 1.5 hour commute to work (which also contributes to around $3k a year in travel costs).

So think about that. You're earning at most $2k a month (and that's really pushing it, I'm going off $12 an hour for a full working week which is currently minimum wage in London. Let's also assume in bizarro world that McDonalds is employing you pretty much full time).

You spend at the very least $1000 per month on rent.
$130 a month on travel.
$80 a month on council tax.
$130 a month on electricity

So of your $2000 a month you now have around $600 left. And we haven't included phone bill, internet bill, groceries, and any number of things that you need to live.

You have $20 a day for all this stuff in LONDON.

So maybe what they're asking isn't actually entirely unreasonable?

@Parappa09 you live in London, thoughts on this?
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pinky0926 posted...

I feel like a lot of people here are still missing the point that this is London. Rent pretty much starts at $1000 a month there if you don't mind a 1.5 hour commute to work (which also contributes to around $3k a year in travel costs).

@Parappa09 you live in London, thoughts on this?

there's several issues that people are overlooking, but the cost of living in london is the biggest factor

also the fact that people want their 1 cheeseburger regardless of the human cost (e.g. low wages, unsustainable standards for employees, etc)

don't forget that working standards in the EU is higher than america, where iirc you don't even need to pay minimum wage to staff? and they rely largely on tips?

it's not unreasonable but i guess if you're looking at it with a US lense then you'd think it's outrageous

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